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Maternal mortality in Yunnan, China: recent trends and associated factors

  1. J Li1,*,
  2. C Luo2,
  3. R Deng3,
  4. P Jacoby1,
  5. N De Klerk1

Article first published online: 16 MAY 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01362.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 114, Issue 7, pages 865–874, July 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Li, J., Luo, C., Deng, R., Jacoby, P. and De Klerk, N. (2007), Maternal mortality in Yunnan, China: recent trends and associated factors. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 114: 865–874. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01362.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia

  2. 2

    The Institute for Population Research of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

  3. 3

    The Institute for Health and Development Studies, Kunming Medical College, Kunming, China

*Dr J Li, Division of Population Sciences, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia. Email jianghongl@ichr.uwa.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 MAY 2007
  2. Article first published online: 16 MAY 2007
  3. Accepted 15 March 2007. Published OnlineEarly 16 May 2007.

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Keywords:

  • Antenatal and obstetric care;
  • illiteracy;
  • income;
  • maternal mortality ratio;
  • Yunnan/China

Objective  Yunnan Province, located in southwest China, is one of the poorest province in China. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is about twice the national average (56.2/100 000 live births), and in remote mountainous regions, the rate is five times higher. This study aimed to examine the progress in reduction of maternal mortality in the 1990s and early 2000s and the factors associated with this reduction in Yunnan.

Design  A population-based, longitudinal, ecological correlation study.

Setting  A remote province of China with a proportionately large indigenous population.

Population  Populations at county, prefecture and provincial level.

Methods  Using maternal mortality data collected at the province, prefecture/region and county levels, trend and time series analyses and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS (Version 13).

Main outcome measure  MMR and its change over time.

Results  MMR declined substantially in the 1990s at a rate of 3.0% per year. Utilisation of prenatal and obstetric care increased and was significantly correlated with the declining trend in MMR. Hospital delivery was a strong predictor of MMR, independent of social and economic development. Both low income and illiteracy were significantly associated with increased MMR.

Conclusions  Declines in maternal mortality in Yunnan over the past 14 years appear to reflect health, social and economic interventions implemented in the 1990s. The association of hospital delivery with maternal mortality may be due to the effective management of severe pregnancy and birth complications. Low income and illiteracy were associated with MMR but primarily through their impact on the use of prenatal and obstetric care.

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